Austal Installs 250th Water Jet

Austal has been congratulated by Rolls-Royce Australia following the installation of its 250th Rolls-Royce / Kamewa water jet.

With Austal currently celebrating its 20th year, the milestone reinforces the company’s extensive experience in working with advanced marine technology.

The achievement also underlines the strength of Austal’s long-term relationship with Rolls-Royce, in which Austal is the waterjet manufacturer’s leading customer for fast ferry applications.

The Kamewa 63 SII water jet, one of the most popular in the Rolls-Royce range due to its efficient conversion of engine power to thrust on the ship, was installed on Austal’s latest 47.5 metre passenger catamaran ferry being built for Hong Kong - the 46th fast ferry Austal has built for the region.

Austal is known globally for its innovations and improvements in design and hull efficiency, which allows its vessels to offer higher payloads and lower fuel consumption. Over the past two decades Austal has prided itself in establishing strong relationships with leading marine technology suppliers.

More than 200 Austal vessels currently operate worldwide, many of which have incorporated the Kamewa 63 SII unit.

Hong Kong’s Venetian Marketing Services Limited (VMSL) ordered a total fleet of fourteen 47.5 metre passenger ferries, each driven by four Kamewa water jets. The passenger catamarans will capitalise on the rapidly growing demand for the Hong Kong to Macao service, currently the world’s largest route in terms of passenger numbers.

Seven of the vessels have already begun operation between Hong Kong and Macau, where their performance has stood out during commercial service.